For the first time, I'm reading hundreds of letters that my father sent to my mother before, during, and after his tour in Vietnam. I don't know what they say and I don't know where this is going, so we'll be finding out at the same time. He passed away in 1992 when he was 44 years old, but they began when he was 19. She was 17…

July 3, 1969 – “I want a yo-yo.”

July 3, 1969. Camp Evans, Vietnam.

Hi Beautiful!

Since I just mailed a tape to you this morning, I really don’t have too much to say. But I feel like writing, so I will. I’m sure you won’t mind too much.

One highlight today — we get a refrigerator in our hooch! A guy just happened to be at the PX at the right time. It cost $85, but eight or nine of us are all going in on it so no one will be hurt too bad. Now maybe we’ll be able to have a cold Coke when we feel like one.

I paid Spargo off for our TV set finally. I’ve forgotten about it the last two paydays and he never mentioned it. So when I did remember I gave him the whole $20 that was left. Now what about 11 bucks for the fridge, I’m going to be hurting before the month is out, but what the heck. It’s out of the way.

Say, I just now noticed that on these little maps down here in the corner they don’t have Hue marked. They do have Phu Bai though, and that’s where Hue is too. Did you get a hold of that map you wanted? I still haven’t seen any here but I’ll keep looking.

By the time you get this you have probably heard about Doug and Judy’s baby, so let me know! Where’s Doug stationed now? Last I remember he was still down in Mississippi. I’m glad things are working out so well for them.

So you and Carol are getting along now, huh? I’m really glad — maybe she’s come to her senses. I hope it stays that way too. She can be quite nice when she wants to, but if she doesn’t want to — oh brother!

Say, I’m quite well known around here now, but not for anything good. A little over a week ago I caught a bad cold — real bad. I’m over it now, but it looks like I did a good job of spreading it. So everyone is running around with “my” cold. You know how miserable summer colds are, but it’s all good natured kidding (I hope!)

Honey, this might sound a little weird, but I want a yo-yo. Could you send me one? I don’t know why, but lately I just feel like playing with one. One of those heavy plastic ones would be real nice — I used to be pretty good with them. Also, I’m out of sunflower seeds, so if you could sense the more of them I would really appreciate it. Thanks hon.

Correction — send two yo-yos. Kim said he would like one too. He said to be sure to get “sleepers,” but that’s what all the good ones are anyway. He also says “hi.”

I got a package from the folks just the other day, full of my favorite cookies — gingersnaps. Plus a lot of other goodies. They said a can of cheese too, but no crackers to put it on. I guess I can’t have everything.

I just saw the most interesting book last night. It’s written by a doctor and a psychologist about sex — kind of a sex manual. Anyway, did you know there are over seventy-seven different positions illustrated in it? Some of them I couldn’t believe, they looked more like a form of torture to me. Others looked kind of interesting, but I think I still would prefer the old-fashioned way. In fact I know I would, if I could still remember how. It’s been a long time!

You know something honey? I love you! More than anything in the whole world I wish I could tell you that in person. But until I can I want you to know I love you more and more each day. And that’s a lot of love!

Forever,

Jeff

PS. If you see Bob, tell him to write! I refuse to write him again until I get one from him.